Hemp Flowers & Roots

Most people are by now aware that hemp stalks are used as an industrial textile crop; however, it is actually possible to use the whole plant for a range of products. In this part of our site we explain how the roots and flowers are used to make tinctures, extracts, perfumes and medicines.

Hemp flowers are resinous; the sticky trichomes aid in wind pollination of the species and protect the delicate vegetable matter from winged predators by trapping them or poisoning/intoxicating the bugs. While the resin glands do not intoxicate humans (due to less than 0.3% THC content in the flowers) the buds may be processed into pharmaceutical grade drugs by extracting the active cannabinoids. Recently a cannabinoid called CBG (Cannabigerol) was extracted from hemp flowers and will be processed into a drug that reduces blood pressure. Tinctures, elixirs, poultices, salves and crèmes have been produced from these flowering tops for thousands of years for a range of internal and external ailments. Many skin conditions may be treated with either hemp or Cannabis and plenty of products have been produced throughout the world combining the powerful medicinal properties of both substances.

The roots of the Cannabis plant can be used to clean soil, effectively removing several forms of contamination. In a process called phytoremidiation, plants are used to clean areas polluted with metals, pesticides, radiation and even crude oil. Industrial cannabis plants have deep tap roots which spread quickly, efficiently covering the affected area . The contaminants are then absorbed through the roots and into the plant itself, which can still be used for certain products associated with construction and plastic. This leaves the ground soil with fewer heavy metals, pesticides or solvents than before, thus cleaning the ground itself of pollution.